Drive and driven device for vehicles, etc.



I Dec. 29, 1931. G. H. FRASER DRIVE AND DRIVEN DEVICE FOR VEHICLES, ETC

Original Filed Sept 12, 1924 INVENTOR Patented Dec. 2 9, 1931 i 7' r i i V wfUNiTED STATS PATENT ()FFICE GEORGE HOLT FRASER, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK DRIVE AND DRIVEN DEVECE FOR VEHICLES, ETC.

Application filed September 12, 1924, Serial 1%. 737,414; Renewed June 12, 1930.

This invention relates to driving mecha- Fig. 5 is a fragmentary enlarged side elenlsm and to driven devices, and aims to provation of the orbital p nion and clutch, showvlde certaln improvements therein. 111g the dlfferential gears and the master It especially relates to differential motion member fragm-entarily in vertical axial secdeviees, and infits preferred form provides tlon in a plane at right angles to that on improved means for such devices and imwhich the section of Fig. 4: is out. proved apparatus in which said devices are Referring especially to Figs. 1 to 3 I will utilized, g now describe the preferred formof my inven- M The invention aims toincrease the efficiention as applied to a self propelled vehicle. i'ff'cy and availability of said means and devices Referring to t le d l g le A represent d t i p th i Ogiqstrugfion d o en the main frame or chassis of an automobile, ano v 1 131 B2, B3, Bl the four wheels thereof, G1

T thi d i a i t th preferred the front axle and C2 the rear axle thereof, ada tati f my s t i r v t l D driving gear thereof, E the engln'e or 1-? provide improved reciprocal and intermemotor thereof, P the transmiss on mechadiat rt i a diff ti l ti n nlsm thereof, and G the steering gear therement and provide improved means for autofol! l matically resisting undue differential motion Thase pa ts y 6 Of y usual or sult- V thereof; and I provide various other features able collstlllctlOn for operatlng, guldlng and "11 of improvement in the'construction arrangecontrol-11118 a Cal? The engine y be of Q 7o ment and use of said improvements which internal COInbustion or other type, thatshown will be hereinafter more fully set forth. g an P W e havlng the -e M present improvements li ble fly wheel crankshaft J, from the revolution n to a wid range f h i l d i d of which motion should be communicated to can be, applied to many t a ng nissign uses, tllQ shaft fi IlCl thedriving WllGElS Wl1( 311 and b t f purposes f ill t ti I ill d as and at such var1able speed fromtime to scribe them in their preferred form as ap- {11119 as 18 r q edplied to the preferred form'of my improved Preferably I p e movable self propelled vehicle with reference to the shaft T and On e real c1161 Oi the Shaft T accompanying drawings in which; I P y f & tlfactlon 1 V Fig 1 is a planview f a motor Vehicle traotlonal ly engaging the s de traction face partly in horizontal section on the plane of Of Wheel W for revolving 1t. Spacedfrom the-rear axle. the wheel W is a reverse wheel X having a" Fig. 2 is a fragmentary vertical transverse side traction face opposed to that of the;

"353" section approximately on the lines 22 in Wheel W and the roller V engages and is sus- Fig. 1 and looking in the directionof the artained between these faces,'which are spaced r nd and sustained by one or more idler rollers U. Fig. 3 is; a fragmentary enlarged .view of Thus the revolution of the shaft T-is tra ns? the differential partly in section'on the axis mitted to the wheel W at a speed depending i of one of the pinions. on its position radially of the wheel VV and Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary face variableas this position is varied. Shifting view of one of a pair of differential gear the transmission varying lever Yto movethe wheels, showing the orbital gear pinion and roller V varies the speed of the wheel W.

its sliding clutch in axial section, and its non For the ordinary divided rear axle withrotative axial stud partly broken away in which a differential is used to perinit inde vertical axial section in a plane at right anpendent revolution of-the' rear wheels, prefgles to the plane on which the section of Fig. erably according to my invention I make the 3 is cut, and showing the clutch and centrifwheel W with a ring or flange on which the 5:} ugal leversin their retardation positions and three radial pinions of the diiferential are 30S mounted between their opposed gears, and in such case my invention provides preferablv for using traction rollers and traction faces for the elements of the differential and nu proved means prefenbly f0 autoinatically retarding revolution of the pinions about their own axes in case of undue independent movement of the opposed traction faces reciprocal to them, so as to more or less resist their independent movement and thus prevent or resist skidding or spinning of one wheel relatively to the other, as will be more fully hereinafter described.

My invention preferably provides for an tomatically regulating the speed of revolution of the driving wheels of the vehicle, and this is preferably effected at the differein tial and so as to not impair the freedom for relative movement of the different Wl] eels while controlling their aggregate speed, and I preferably do this by applying a centrifugal governo A to the wheel if and utilize this to axially move a grooved collar p engaging one end of the le H for automatr cally shifting the shaft '1 to vary the roller V as is necessary to diminish the speed of the wheel IV when this exceeds a predetermined limit.

My invention preferably provides for utilizing the driving stress or load as a means for generating the fractional engagement between the traction faces, and I preferably do this by dividing the wheel W and the differential flange or cup I and connecting these by a driving connection serving to utilize the driving stress between them to gencrate an axial force for pressing on the wheel IV toward its driving roller V. This may be done by any suitable means, but I prefer to provide oppositely inclined wedges or faces p on these portions slidingly engaging to cause them to rotate together, but capable of wedging action tending to displace them axially so that the driving stress is transmitted from one to the other part through these cam like faces which tend to convert it into an axial stress to increase the tractional engagement between the wheel W and its roller V.

According to my invention improved control of differential revolution (relatively to the radial axis of the orbital pinion) of the two driven differential wheels with their axles is provided, preferably axially movable of one of the revolving parts and centrifugally restrained axially of such part from resisting differential revolution duringnormal revolution of the driven parts and operating during differential revolution of the driven parts to resist such differential revolution. This may be provided for in any suitable way, but preferably I poise the resisting means axially of its revolving part by counterpoising it between counter-acting levers 23 or centrifugal means revolving about the axle of the driven parts during their normal revolution and then centrifugally actuated to hold the resisting means in the inactive position, and centrifugally moved during differential revolution and then permitting the resisting means to move into the active position. Preferably the differential pinions are automatically controlled by improved governing means I to arrest or retard their rotation around their respective axes to prevent or resist independent revolution of the driven member or differential wheels 9 between which the pinions operate. Preferably these wheels have opposed side traction faces and the pinions 1' have edge traction faces between and tractionally engaging these side faces. The pinions are orbital members revolving around the axis of the driven members and preferably are rotative on the radial studs 8 projecting within the flange of the master member or driving cup or wheel J, and are normally free to turn on their axes or studs to permit relative movement of the wheel 9 required for normal differential operation, but should one wheel 9 cease revolving and the other consequently revolved at double speed as the pinions revolve with the cap J they would be caused to rotate about their own axes to meet this condition, and according to one feature of my invention I provide improved means forresisting their individual rotation, preferably by utilizing it to centrifugally retard them so that the retarding force applied to them will tend to compel revolution of the idle wheel. This can be done in any suitable manner, but I prefer to provide each pinion with one or more centrifugal levers 2' swinging centrifugally when the pinion rotates on its own axis and then operating a friction clutch or brake u to resist or prevent such rotation of its pinion, thus to the extent of such resistance to tend to compel both wheels of the differential to revolve together. Thus slipping of either wheel will be automatically resisted, and their free independent revolution will be prevented so that each may be assured of exerta driving force, and tendency of skidding and the requirements for non-slipping chains will be reduced.

As shown the centrifugal lever zf is fulcrumed to the orbital roller 1' to swing centrifngally from an axis other than the axis of rotation of this roller and preferably distant from and at right angles to the axis of the roller so that when their weighted ends swing the other ends of the levers will generate motion axially of the roller and cause the brake a to clutch the roller axially.

Preferably the centrifugal levers t are fulcrumed inwardly of their weighted ends so that as they revolve with the revolution of the cup 5 centrifugal force will act to swing by centrifugal their weighted ends toward thestudsto re generates suflicient centrifugal force in'the.

weighted ends of the; levers to overcome the centrifugal .actionof their normal revolu-- Thus my automatic centrifugal means in their preferred form are poised between a centrifugal releasing stress incident to the revolution of the member J and another C611? trifugal brake actuating stress incident to the individual revolution of the orbital rollers so thatthey serve to both release the brake and hold it inactive at one time and to apply it at another time'and act automatically in either contingency tosuitvarying conditions.

1 The clutch u preferably slides axially of, the orbital wheel and exerts a-for'cible'or positive clutching or braking actionto more or less non-rotatably engage it with itsstud s.

As, shown one of the parts is constructed with a recess or slot and the other with a pin or stud to non-rotatively feather the brake u to the stud s, and the centrifugal action causesthe pin to move in therecess to lock the parts against rotation when the pinis moved weights. 1

My. invention is shown as appliedto 1a vehicle driving each of the four wheels B1, B2, B3, B4 at. identical speeds when their axes are parallel and at suitablyvaried different speeds as these axes are movedout of parallelism for turningthe vehicle. "Preferahly the right front wheel B1, is fixedon its tubular shaft L1, and the left front wheel B2 is fixed on its tubular shaft L2, and these shafts are mounted to revolve on the pivot ally mounted front axle C1, which'can swing on its vertical axis to steer the vehicle. Pref-V erably the rear right wheel B3 is fixed on its tubular shaft L3 and the rear left wheel is lined on its tubular shaft L4, and these are mounted to revolve onthe pivotallymounted.

rear axle G2, which can turn horizontally by sliding under the frame N for steerlng the The elements g of the-differwith a Jevel gear 0 onithe under side of a WheelP,wl1ich has an operating side tractlon face opposite and spaced from the lower side traction face of a'similar wheel Q, which wheels Preferably the edge traction rollers are lined respectivelytothe outer endsof-the diagonal shafts El, E2, E3,E l (which shafts are respectively drivenhfromthe transmission. P- by the rollers D1, D2,;D3, D4)I,and the action of the. governing:

are spaced from each. other by intermedlate idlerrollersB. i

rollers Se'enter between and tractionally enthe faces of the wheels P and Q, respect-i tiv'ely, so thatlthrough them each wheel Bl, B2,;B3, Be is individually driven from the wheel F,'the parts being proportioned and disposed to make their speed of drive correspend with thatof the differential in its nor mal operation so that the driving effect of the latter and of each individual wheel is cumulative and normally identical inspeed and direction when the four wheels are all of like diameter, or will be suitably varied in case any of thewheels are of unlikedia m ctei'. s v In the vehicle shown uniform positioning of the front and rear axles'so that these shall move properly, is preferably done by equaling means 'Z, which preferably consists of v diagonal tierods each extending from a point are proportioned and disposed to insure prompt and equal reciprocal movementvof the front and rear axles 1n steering, so that the stress ofjthe steeringworm may beapplied to the front axle ands-will be transmitted from it to reversely operate the rear axle, these rods being duplicated to balance the strains on each side of the king pins.

In operation when for any cause either rearwheel should skid or slipthe resulting rotation of the differential pinions will cause the skid governor I to instantly acttoresist rotation of the pinions and to tendto compel both rear wheels to revolve together,

It will be understood that my invention provides improvements which can be readily and advantageously availed of in whole or in partin any suitable or desired manner, and that the invention is not limited to the particular details of construction, arrangement or use, nor to the particular combination, herein'set forthas embodying the preferred form of my present improvements, since any of these may be modified as circumstances orthe judgment of those skilled: in the art may dictate without-departing from the spirit of my invention.

One: such modificationis shown in Figs-4 I;

and 5 in which the differential wheel g3 is fixed on its tubular axle L3, andthe differ? ential wheel 4 is fixed on its tubular axle L4, and these wheels and the orbital pinion 14 are toothed gears instead of having tractional driving faces, the parts in other respects being similar to those before described and bearing the same letters of reference.

Preferably the axle stud s is non-rotatively mountedrin andirevolves with the master member J, and the'lock u isaxiallyslidable on. and non-rotative relatively to thestud, and the centrifugal locking and restraining levers t are rotatable and revoluble and are ful-l crumed on the orbitalpini'on to swing on till an axis transverse of its axis, and engage the lock by a rotation permitting connection. This may be accomplished in any suitable manner, but I prefer to form the stud with a recess notch or slot a, and to provide the lock with a pin or projection b entering such recess so that the side faces of the recess and pin afford rotation resisting facespermitting movement of the lock axially of the stud, and I prefer to form the lock with a peripheral groove 0 affording an actuating face d and a restraining face 6, and to provide each lever 26 with a short locking end f entering between and making a rotative connection with these faces, and with a right angle long or weight end 9, and to fulcrum each lever to'swing on an axis which is preferably transverse of the axis of the stud s, and to provide the short end of the lever with a re tardation effecting face 76 and a retardation restraining face Z. Any rotation resisting means may be provided, but I prefer to form the pinion with an annular female recess or tapering clutch face 2" and the clutch with an annular male projection or tapering clutch face j, which faces preferably frictionally engage axially to retard differentiation and disengage axially to prevent such retardation. V

Any of the wheels and rollers of the differential may be gears instead of frictional members, and my invention includes using my improvements with a toothed differential pinion.

The retarding differential may be used with any known construction, and my in vention includes providing means for resisting differential revolution, or centrifugal means for controlling such means, or both, between the driven members and preferably inwardly of the differential pinion to retard or resist such revolution.

What I claim is:

1. In combination, members relatively rcvoluble about the same axis and each having a driving face opposite and spaced from that of the other, a member revoluble about said axisand rotatable about an axis radially thereof and having a driving face between and engaging said driving faces, to revolve said first members and to rotate about its radial axis to permit differential revolution of said first members, means for revolving said second member about the axis of said first members, and centrifugally restrained rotation retarding resistance means for retarding such rotation of said second i ember revolving around said first axis and centrifugally rcstrained by such revolution from such retardation during normal revolution of said first members.

2. In combination, members revolving about an axis and each having a driving face opposite and spaced from that of the other, a member revolving about said axis and rotatable about another axis and having a driving face between and engaging said faces for re volving said first members and permitting differential revolution thereof, means for revolving said second member about the axis of said first members, and centrifugally restrained swinging resistance means for retarding such differential revolution swingingly mounted as to and revolving around said first axis and centrifugally restrained by such revolution from such retardation during normal revolution of said first members.

3. In combination, members revolving about the same axis and each having a driving face opposite and spaced from that of the other, a member revolving about said axis and rotatable about an axis radially thereof and having a driving face between and in driving engagement with said faces for revolving said first members together and permitting their differential. revolution, means for revolving said second member about the axis of said first members to revolve the latter together, and centrifugally restrained pivotally mounted resistance means for re tarding such differential revolution pivoted. on an axis angular to said radial axis and revolving around said first axis and centrifugally restrained by such revolution from such retardation during normal revolution of said first members.

4. In combination, members revolving about the same axis and each having a driving face opposite and spaced from that of the other, a member revolving about said axis and rotatable about an axis radially thereof and having a driving face between and in driving engagement with said faces for revolving said first members together and permitting their differential revolution, means for revolving said second member about the axis of said first members to revolve the latter together, and centrifugally restrained axially movable resistance means for retarding such differential revolution movable axially of said second member and revolving around said first axis and centrifugally restrained by such revolution from such retardation during normal revolution of said first members.

5. In combination, members revolving about the same axis and each having a driving face opposite and spaced from that of the other, a member revolving about said axis and rotatable about an axis radial of said axis and having a driving face between and engaging said faces to revolve said first members and rotatable about said radial. axis to permit dif ferential revolution of said first members, means for revolving said second member about said first axis, and centrifugally restrained automatically retarding resistance means for retarding such differential revolution revolving around said first axis and centrifugally 1 restrained by such revolution from such retardation during normal revolution of said first members.

' 6. In Combination, members revolving aboutthe same axis and each having a driving face opposite and spaced from that of the other, a member revolving about said axis an d rotatable about an axis radial of said axis and having a driving face between and engaging said faces to revolve said first members and rotatable about said radial axis to permit differential revolution of said first members.v means for revolving said-"second member about said first axis, andcentrifugallv radially rest-rained automatically retarding resistance means for retarding such differential. revolution revolvin around and movable radially of saidfirst axis andcentrifugally restrained by such revolution from such re ing face opposite and spaced from that of the other, a member revolving about said axis and rotatable about an axis radial of said axis and having a driving face between and engaging said faces to revolve said first members and rotatable about said radial axis to permit differential revolution of said first members, ineans for. revolving said second member about said first axis, and centrifugallyrestrained centrifugally applied resistance means for retarding such differential revolution revolving around said'first axis and centrifugally restrained by such revolution from such retardation during normal revolution of said first members.

8. In combination, members revolving about the same axis and each having a driving face opposite and spaced from that of the other, a member revolving about said axis and rotatableabout an axis radial of said axis and having a driving face between and engaging said faces to revolve said first mem bers and rotatable about saidradial axis to permit differential revolution of said first members, means for revolving said second member about said first axis, and centrifugally restrained resistance means for retarding such differentialrevolution mounted between said first members and revolving around said first axis and centrifugally restrained by such revolution from such retardation during normal revolutionof said first members. v l I 9. In combination, members revolving about the same axis and each having a driving face opposite and spaced from that of the other, a member revolving about said axis and rotatable about an axis radial of said axis and having a driving face between and engaging said faces to revolve said first members and rotatable about said radial axis to permit differential revolution of said first members,'means for revolving said second member about said first axis, and centrifugally restrained resistance means for retard lng such difierential revolution carried by said means forrevolving said second member about the same axis and each having a driving face opposite and spaced from that of the 7 other, a member revolving aboutsaid axis and rotatable about an axis radialof said axis and having a driving face between and engaging said faces to revolve said first members and rotatable about said radial axis to permit differential revolutionof said first members, means for revolving said second member about said first axis, and centrifugally restrained second member retarding resistance means for retarding such differential revolution resisting such rotation of said second member and revolving around said first axis and centrifugally restrained by such revolution from resisting such rotation during normal revolution of said first members.

11. In combination, members revolving about the same axis and each having a driving face opposite and spaced from that of the other, a member revolving about said axis and rotatable about an axis radial of said axis and having driving face between and engaging said faces to revolvesaid first men1- bers and rotatable about said 'radialaxis to permit differential revolution of said first members, means for revolving said second member about said first axis, and centrifugally restrained revoluble and rotatable re sistance means for retarding such differential revolution revolving around said first axis and centrifugally restrained by such revolution from such retardation during normal revolution of saidfirst members and rotatable aboutan axis radially of saidifirst axis for retardation of such differentiation during differential revolution of said first members.

member about said first axis, and centrifugally restrained revolublc and rotatable centrifugally acting resistance means for retarding such differential revolution revolving ar undsaid first axis and ce'ntrifugally restrained by such-revolution from such re tardatio'n during normal revolution of said first members and rotating around another axis and centrifugally actuated by such rotation for retardation of such differentiation during differential revolution of said first members.

13. In combination, members revolving about the same axis and each having a driving face opposite and spaced from that of the other, a member revolving about said axis and rotatable about an axis radial of said axis and having a driving face between and engaging said faces to revolve said first members and rotatable about said radial axis to permit differential revolution of said first members, means for revolving said second member about said first axis, and centrifugally restrained axially movable resistance means for retarding such differential revolution disposed axially of and movable axially of such axis and revolving around said first axis and eentrifugally restrained by such revolution from such retardation during normal revolution of said first members.

14:. In combination, members revolving about the same axis and each having a driving face opposite and spaced from that of the other, a membe revolving about said axis and rotatable about an axis radial of said axis and having a driving face between and engagmg said faces to revolve said first members and rotatable about said radial axis to permit differential revolution of said first men'ibers, means for revolving said second member about said first axis, and centrifugally restrained radially axially movable resistance means for retarding such differential revolution disposed axially of and movable axially of said radial axis-and revolving around said first axis and centrifugally restrained by such revolution from such retardation during normal revolution of said first members.

15. In combination, members revolving about the same axis and each having a driving face opposite and spaced from that of the other, a member revolving about said axis and rotatable about an axis radially of said axis and having a driving face between and engaging said driving faces to revolve said first members and rotatable about said radial axis to permit differential revolution of said first members, means for revolving said second member about said first axis, centrifugally restrained resistance means for retarding such differential revolution, and centrifugal restraining and centrifugal retardingly actuating means revolving around said first axis and centrifugally affected by such revolution for restraining said resistancemeans duringnormal revolution of said first members and centrifugally retardingly actuating said resistance means during differential revolution of said first members.

16. In combination, members revolving about the same axis and each having a driving face opposite and spaced from that of the other, a member revolving about said axis and rotatable about an axis radially of said axis and having a driving face between and engaging said driving faces to revolve said first members and rotatable about said radial axis to permit differential revolution of said first members, means for revolving said second member about said first axis, and radially inward resistance means for retarding such differential revolution disposed radially inwardly of said second member.

17. In combination, members revolving about the same axis and each having a driving face opposite and spaced from that of the other, a member revolving about said axis and rotatable about an axis radially of said axis and having a driving face between and engaging said driving faces to revolve said first members and rotatable about said radial axis to permit differential revolution of said first members, means for revolving said second member about said first axis, and inwardly intermediate resistance means for retarding such differential revolution disposed inwardly of said driving faces and intermediate of said first members.

18. In combination, members revolving about the same axis and each having a driving face opposite and spaced from that of the other, a member revolving about said axis and rotatable about an axis radially of said axis and having a driving face between and engaging said driving faces to revolve said first members and rotatable about said radial axis to permit differential revolution of said first members, means for revolving said second member about said first axis, and axially movable intermediate restraining means for retarding such differential revolution movable axially of one of said axes and intermediate of said first members.

19. In combination, members revolving about the same axis and each having a driving face opposite and spaced from that of the other, a member revolving about said axis and rotatable about an axis radially of said axis and having a driving face between and engaging said driving faces to revolve said first members and rotatable about said radial axis to permit differential revolution of said first members, means for revolving said second member about said first axis, and radially movable resisting means for retarding such differential revolution movable radially of and disposed intermediate of said first members.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto signed my name.

GEORGE HOLT FRASER lit) 

